Island



(NoModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1..

G. H. WEBB. CENTER PIEGB FOR THE GRATBS 0P FORGE FURNAOES.

No, 488,235. Patented Dec. 20, 1892,

2 Shets-Sheeb 2.

- (No Model.)

. G. H. WEBB. CENTER PIBGE FOR THE GRA'I'ES 0F FORGE FURNAGES'.

,235. Patented Dec. 20,- 189 2.

Unrrnn STATES PATENT @FFICE.

GEORGE H. WVEBB, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND.

CENTER PIECE FOR THE GRATES OF FORGE-FURNACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 488,235, dated December 20, 1892.

Application filed June 17, 1892. Serial No. 437,037- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. WEBB, of the city of Pawtucket, in the county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Center Pieces for the Grates of Forge- Furnaces; and I declare the following to be a specification thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Like letters indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention as seen in position in a revolving forgefurnace, adapted for the heating of boltblanks, said furnace being shown in central vertical section. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the furnace-grate, with my improved center-piece in place thereon. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is an inverted plan of the center-piece. Fig. 5 is a central vertical section of the grate and dome, to illus trate the direction of the air currents and to show in what manner the grate and dome are fastened together.

My invention is especially adapted to he used upon the furnace for heating bolt-blanks, which is described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 222,335, granted to me December 2, 1879, and consists of the combination of a grate and a bell-shaped center-piece, as hereinafter particularlyspecified.

As set forth in said Letters Patent, a is a standard firmly secured to the bed-plate a, or integral therewith.

b is an annular ring, cast in one piece, with a bracket, by which it is secured to the standard a.

c is a circular chamber, secured to the annular ring I), which, extending downward, forms the ash-pit of the furnace, the bottom thereof being closed by the plate (1, which is secured so as to be easily removed when th ash-pit is to be cleaned.

e is a cylinder, whose interior tapers from the bottom upward. The cylinder has a rim and gear and sets loosely within the annular ring I) and is supported on a series of balls g, which rest on the surface of the annular ring I). To secure the balls and to hold them in their proper position, an annular groove is made in the lower face of the rim f, and they are made to rotate in a circle.

A is a dumping grate, supported on trunnions '2) within the cylinder 6, so that the upper surface of the grate is on' a level with the upper edge of the cylinder. The grate Ahas a central opening w, as shown in cross-section in Fig. 5. The grate is surrounded by the rings 2' i, resting on the cylinder 6. These rings are connected with each other by dowels, or otherwise, and have semicircular holes is in each, thus forming a series of circular openings, as shown.

an is an annular shelf, surrounding the lower ring, and is in line with the bottom edges of the holes in, so that the blanks, which are inserted in said holes, may rest upon the shelf, as said shelf and the furnace revolve together.

n is a stationary shelf, supported by brackets a, or in any suitable manner, from the rim b. On this shelf a stock of blanks can be kept and the tongs supported so that the blanks will be. ready for insertion into the holes is.

A blast-pipe is placed, so that its nozzle 1) occupies a central position within the ash-pit e. The nozzle p has a conical plug q, which is made adjustable, either by being supported on a central pin provided with a screw-thread, or by sliding on the central pin and being operated by a lever, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. When so arranged, the plug q can be used as a valve to shut off or let on the air.

h is a dome connected witha chimney to carry off the products of combustion.

The furnace is rotated by means of a bevel gear t of a horizontal shaft to which power is applied, which gear engages with a bevel gear S. The gear S is mounted on-a perpendicular shaft, at the top of which is the pinion a", which pinion engages with the gear f of the furnace.

B is the center-piece, which is preferably domed or bell shaped, and has a horizontal flange or annular rim 0. This flange or rim has radially-arranged grooves D upon its. under surface. The center -piece also has a downwardly projecting flange or annular rim E, which sets into the corresponding opening 10 of the grate A, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. On the interior of said center-piece, are oppositely arranged bosses F, with grooves or seats G, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The upper end of the center-piece Bis closed and air-holes or vents H are made therein.

The center-piece can be fastened to the grate by means of a bar I resting in the grooves G of the bosses F and extending across on the inside of the center-piece and by a bar J across the under surface of the grate, said bars being connected together by one or more bolts. K as fully illustrated in Fig. 5.

My improved center-piece is useful in directing the air-currents from the blast-pipe to that portion of the grate A which lies outside the flange O of said center-piece. The air-currents which strike and enter the center-piece from below are diverted by the inner surface of the center-piece and are discharged through the grooves or air-passages D, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 5, thus concentrating the blast upon that portion of the coal fire Where the bolt-blanks are to be heated and so intensifying the heat. The bell-shape of the center-piece is useful to confine the fuel to the outer edge of the grate, as the bolt-blanks require to be heated only for a short distance from the end which is to be headed. In order that the center-piece may not be injured by the heat, I have made the air-vents H, so thatasmall but sufficientquantity of air may pass through from the blast. Without this center-piece, the fuel would cover the entire surface of the grate A, and, although the greatest force of the air-blast would be experienced near the edge of the grate, on account of the divergence given to said currents by the flaring nozzlep of the blast-pipe and the conical plug q in said nozzle, yet a considerable quantity of the air would be received at the center of the grate and thus an intense fire would practically extend all over the grate. My improvement causes an economy of fuel and confines the fuel to the outer portion of the grate and there concentrates the blast.

I claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent.

1. In a furnace having an air-blast pipep, the combination of the grate A, having the central openingw and the dome B having the annular flange 0 with air-passages D and the flange E fitting into the opening to of the grate A, substantially as shown and for the purpose specified.

2. In a furnace having an air-blast pipe 13, the combination of the grate A having the central opening 10, the dome B having the flange 0 with air-passages D,the flange E fitting into said opening to, the bosses F with the grooved seats G, and the barsIand Jconnected by the bolt K and adapted to fasten said grate and dome together substantially as specified.

GEORGE I'I. WEBB.

IVitnesses:

WARREN R. PEROE, DANIEL W. FINK. 

